Page 14 of Guarded from Treachery

Matt seems like he’s moving through a fog.

“Isla.”Urgency strains his voice.

I reach for the couch to steady myself, but it doesn’t work.

Darkness creeps into my vision.

As if I’m watching from afar, I see myself falling.

Wait.

I’m not.

Matt lunges for me, sweeping me into his arms.

He lifts me against his chest and my head sags on his shoulder. I know I should do something, insist I’m okay, apologize, but I don’t have the energy. It feels like all the life has been sucked out of me.

Before I realize what’s happening, I’m laid back on the couch. Matt leans over me, one hand braced on the cushion, the other lightly touching my forehead. Worry darkens his gaze. In an achingly gentle tone, he says, “Isla. I’m going to get my friend and have her come take a look at you. She’s a physician assistant, so she knows what she’s doing. Is that okay?”

But now that I’m laying down, my body is starting to feel more like my own again. The dizziness is fading. And I’m not worried about my legs collapsing from underneath me.

“No, I’m okay.” I push myself up—slowly—to a seated position. “I just got dizzy for a second.”

Matt drops to his knees beside the couch and takes my hand. His thumb rests at my wrist, and after a moment, he frowns. “Your pulse is too fast, Isla. I’m not trying to be bossy here, and I know I’m basically a stranger to you, but I’m worried.”

“It’s really okay.” Forcing a strained smile, I add, “I think it’s just because I haven’t eaten in a while. I was rushing to get out of work early, and then I just jumped on the road, so I didn’t have a chance to grab dinner.”

Guilt flickers through his eyes. His jaw goes tight. “Dammit,” he grits out. “I should have come to you. I didn’t want to leave the women here alone, but?—”

“It’s fine.” He looks so upset, I catch his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. “Really. I’m the one who was so impatient to get here. It’s not your fault.”

Matt stares at me for a few seconds before he lets out a heavy sigh. “Well. I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on that. But—” He stands. “Icanget you something to eat. I’m not much of a cook, but I have some leftover tomato soup and grilled cheese. Or I can make you a regular sandwich. Lucy—that’s Xavier’s wife—says they’re not good. But I can… I don’t know… zhoosh them up or something.”

I should not be thinking about how cute Matt is after I nearly fainted in his living room.

But gosh. Heiscute.

It’s the most incongruous thing. From the first time seeing him in that parking lot—all dangerous and intense—to now, this sweet and slightly awkward teddy bear.

The rest of my life might be a disaster of epic proportions, but being here with Matt?This, I can’t complain about.

Holding his gaze, I smile as I say, “I’d love a zhooshed up sandwich. That sounds perfect.”

His answering grin chases away some of the worry in his gaze. “Okay, then. One Matt special, coming up. And don’t go anywhere. Just relax until I come back. Okay?”

My mind darts off in an unexpected direction, and before I can stop myself, I blurt, “You said some of your teammates live here with their partners. What about you?”

A beat later, I realize the absolute inappropriateness of what I just asked. My cheeks heat. “Um. Forget I asked that. I don’t know what I was?—”

Matt stares at me. His eyes flicker with an indecipherable emotion. Then he gives me another one of those shy smiles. “No. I have my own apartment here. And I’m not dating anyone.”

Oh.

It shouldn’t matter.

Given the circumstances, itreallyshouldn’t matter.

But my silly heart has a different idea. A stubborn spark of hope kindles in my chest.

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